Earth-Crawling Snake

The Land of Fire had a strange feature: the closer you got to Konoha, the more forests there were, and the taller and more luxuriant the trees grew.

As they made their way through the forest behind Kage Rock, even the sunlight struggled to pierce the lush spring canopy and reach the ground.

Emerald leaves swayed in the spring breeze, while fresh green grass carried the fragrant scent of soil, filling the land with vibrant life.

The seasons turned. After the bitter cold of winter, spring once again filled the world with rhythm and vitality.

As he strolled through the dense forest, Orochimaru seemed distracted.

He was already forty. His life was still basking in the lingering warmth of summer, yet the bleakness of autumn and winter seemed to be just around the corner.

Unless he took possession of a tree still thriving in spring.

Beside him, Uchiha Chen was still smiling faintly, seemingly unaware that the man next to him had turned hostile.

"Mr. Orochimaru, where were we just now?"

"The Caged Bird Seal, right—the Caged Bird Seal!"

Orochimaru withdrew his greedy, predatory gaze. Recalling how Teacher Sarutobi had patiently guided him in his youth, he began telling Uchiha Chen what he knew about the Caged Bird Seal.

The Caged Bird Seal was terrifyingly effective.

If a member of the Branch Family had their eyes taken or died, the seal would instantly destroy their eyes and reproductive system, ensuring their enemies had no chance of obtaining the Byakugan.

"As for the technique the Main Family uses to control the lives of the Branch Family..."

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and magnetic. He revealed some of his "little secrets" without the slightest concern:

"I examined it. Unlike the other parts of the seal, it isn't ancient and flawless. It seems more like something that was added later."

"Now that we've talked about the Byakugan, Chen, let's talk about your Uchiha clan's legendary Mangekyō Sharingan!"

Orochimaru glanced at Uchiha Chen, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. He made it seem as though he were merely a researcher curious about the unknown.

"How powerful is the strength of the legendary Asura of the Ninja World?"

Orochimaru wasn't interested in pursuing power.

But after recently experiencing for himself the might left behind by the God of Shinobi, he couldn't help but be interested in the power of an asura who could stand alongside him. It was especially hard to ignore the Sharingan after seeing Itachi in action.

"The Mangekyō isn't as powerful as the legends say."

To Orochimaru's surprise, Uchiha Chen didn't boast about the Mangekyō's strength. Instead, he answered plainly:

"Just as a Three-Tomoe Sharingan user is among the elite jonin, a Mangekyō user is among the upper ranks of the strongest.

"As for Madara, he's special. It's like how the First was special even among the Senju Clan."

"I see..."

Orochimaru lowered his head and chuckled darkly. Then an immense, murderous aura erupted from him like a raging tidal wave. He spoke in a sinister tone:

"Chen, I heard you've made great progress on the battlefield. Why don't we spar?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Orochimaru's body twisted like a snake. He flickered forward with a terrifying hiss and attacked before Uchiha Chen could reply.

Uchiha Chen narrowed his eyes and used the Body Flicker Technique to put some distance between himself and Orochimaru.

Hiss!

Orochimaru's boneless neck suddenly stretched out. He opened his mouth and spat out a bright green snake. The snake's foul-smelling jaws gaped, and Orochimaru's upper body emerged from within. With a whoosh, he spat out a Kusanagi Sword gleaming with a cold light.

Kusanagi Sword was a general name for a class of famous swords, much like "Supreme Grade Blades." As for how many there were, probably no one knew except Orochimaru, who was obsessed with collecting them.

A man spat out a snake, the snake spat out a man, and the man spat out a sword. In an instant, Orochimaru had closed the distance to Uchiha Chen.

Amid the earthshaking ring of steel, Orochimaru's expression grew more and more vicious and sinister. He laughed and said:

"Don't worry, Chen. I won't harvest a fruit that's only half-ripe yet. I'll just leave a mark on you!"

"Demonic Illusion: Ignis Fatuus!"

Uchiha Chen's calm, even voice rang out, and power flared in his scarlet eyes.

Orochimaru's surroundings changed in an instant. Raging flames coiled around him, and the pain inflicted directly upon his mind far surpassed that of being burned by real fire.

"Genjutsu: Release!"

The flames flickered and wavered, turning illusory for a moment, but they still clung to Orochimaru.

The fire burned ever more fiercely.

Orochimaru felt a twinge of unease.

He had fought many Uchiha shinobi with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He was a genjutsu master himself, and he was certain he should have been able to break the ocular genjutsu of a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

And yet an illusion as simple as Ignis Fatuus had trapped me?

With no time to think, Orochimaru bit down on a pill hidden beneath his tongue. The suddenly released poison disrupted his Chakra flow, allowing him to break free of the illusion.

"Snake Style Substitution Technique!"

After expending a massive amount of Chakra to shed his skin and expel the poison from his body, Orochimaru stood with the Kusanagi Sword in his hand, gazing at Uchiha Chen with fervent eyes.

"Chen, your Eye Power is already stronger than that of every Uchiha I've ever met!"

"Is that so? Then you haven't met many."

Two figures sped through the forest, battling at high speed and setting off bursts of air. Even as they fought at close quarters, they still had enough breath to chat like old friends.

Neither of them used conspicuous techniques like ninjutsu.

"Chen, you were already impressive, but your progress over the past six months has been astounding. What happened to you?"

Orochimaru's voice was feverish, almost deranged. He took one of Uchiha Chen's sword strikes head-on. Ignoring his wound, he stretched out his neck and opened his mouth like a snake, lunging for Chen's shoulder.

"Whatever happened to you, you'll belong to me soon enough! Cursed Seal Technique!"

"Mr. Orochimaru, are you trying to take over my body?"

As Orochimaru's attack came within inches of his face, Uchiha Chen's lips curved into a slight smile.

"Then let me show you the true power of the Sharingan!"

Orochimaru's expression froze. It was as though a crimson light had swept across him.

He turned toward the source of the light—and met Uchiha Chen's gaze.

"Beautiful..."

Orochimaru stared dazedly at the pattern in Chen's eyes, so different from the Three-Tomoe. He stood utterly dumbstruck.

Tsukuyomi!

In a mental world like a blood-red abyss,

Orochimaru was nailed to a cross, playing the part of Yego, with a gag in his mouth—the signature touch of Uchiha Chen's genjutsu.

Uchiha Chen crossed his arms and looked at Orochimaru's horrified face. He spoke as if deeply disappointed:

"You're a snake that crawls through the mud. Be content to slither in the dirt and hunt among the grass. Isn't that happiness enough? Why see a divine dragon soaring through the sky and foolishly dream of taking flight and becoming one?

"Reptiles don't grow wings. Trying to steal them and soar into the heavens will only leave you shattered on the ground!

"Mr. Orochimaru, I'm doing this for your own good. Do you understand?"

Orochimaru's spirit shuddered again and again. With his mouth gagged, he couldn't say a word.

"Looks like you still don't understand! For the sake of the village, for the sake of harmony in Konoha, I'll have to teach you a little lesson and try to set you back on the right path!"

With an air of righteous conviction, Uchiha Chen gathered Yin Release into a long sword and began to "reform" Orochimaru.